2022-23 Team Developments: News / Trades / Free Agents / Rumors

We have entered the "we are turning against our own fanbase" phase.

Let's just get healthy and see what happens. Hopefully we make a move soon and reset.

 

If all our stars our back and healthy, I expect this team to be in the Finals. With the current roster and Vogel as the coach.

 

Most people, not just in sports, romanticize the "Ifs" in hindsight scenarios.

Let's look at Trez, KCP, Kuzma and Caruso last year........

Trez = doghouse, can't play against elite talent but great motor....

KCP = Good D, good role player, shoots 40% from 3, has lapses through out the year due to lack of confidence but overall, plays well on a Lebron and AD team.

Kuzma = improved D, can't hit open shots regularly, Laker fans feel he should be better.

Caruso = folk hero, little engine that could. Has skills, good attitude has a good head on his shoulders. Kinda brittle but still one of the few who plays with balls.


Traded and didn't sign all that for Monk, Nunn, Westbrook and THT.

Monk = Great pick up

Nunn = terrible pick up

Westbrook = Catastrophic pick up

THT = D+ signing

Now, last year the Lakers were notorious for going into massive droughts EVERY GAME in scoring. AD and LeBron were always injured. Result......first round ousting.

This year, Lakers are notorious for going into massive lack of basic fundamental basketball, like boxing out and keeping large leads. AD and LeBron are always injured. Prognosis? If lucky, first round ousting.....

What's the common denominator in the end?

 

Lebron missed 37 percent of our regular season games last season. AD missed 50 percent. Lebron and AD played together in 27 regular season games 38 percent of total games played.

Lebron has missed 30 percent of our regular season games so far this season. AD has missed 41 percent. Lebron and AD has played together in 16 games so far this season 31 percent of total games played.

Similar results on the court at the moment. It will be interesting to see if these numbers improve or get worse by the end of the regular season.

 

Lack of health, lack of unit practicing together enough. I have no doubt that if AD and Lebron were 110% and stayed strong all year, we would be in the running every single year even with all the changes and some of the mismatches. Truth is, without both of them at 100% and able to play confidently, there is nobody we could put on the floor that could win anything for us.

If AD cannot stay healthy, we are screwed. No way can we pay him, Lebron and RW and field a team that can carry us while they are not on the floor. We should never have signed a 40+ million a year player as a third option. Better to have two superstars and two solid starters, then go to wingmen.

 

You know, we threw all our eggs in one basket. We may only get one ring out of it but one ring is still one ring. 17 and counting. We may not get another one until Lebron retires and we rebuild.

 

Interesting tidbit from Bobby Marks regarding trading our draft picks...

ESPN INSIDER

So if a team didn't want to wait that long on their pick conversion, there is a potential creative path to it being a year early.

 

Dumb question: Do we even have a draft pick this year? Cause we might end up in the lottery.

 

i believe a second rounder. pelicans have their first

 

Like, who really cares @ this point?

I guess some do, but really, LBJ is out for the next few games, this team can't beat anybody without him seemingly, and we're not a very good basketball team as presently constructed.

All of that assets we did have mostly went in that horrible Westbrook transaction.

Why make matters worse? Just punt the season. People saying, "oh, that's 1 less year of LBJ," he's a big reason why we're in this mess.

It's a disaster.

 

New stuff from B/R's Fischer...

Wiz are one of the most active teams. Could be their last ditch effort to get Beal to stay (article by David Aldridge came out today and said while he wants to stay, he's not completely against leaving). Entertaining trying to get Grant, but sounds like their ideal move is for Sabonis. Not necessarily part of those packages, Wiz are showcasing Thomas Bryant and also shopping Dinwiddie.

Hmm...I think we could use yet another ball dominant guard (we need at least 5) and we do play in an arena named after Dinwiddie's favorite form of payment. Let's throw our hat in the ring.


Barnes a target for the Jazz (and us) , but Ingles injury might've killed option for Utah.

Cavs looking for wing help too

There's always Baze. We dealt with them once. Hopefully Rob still has their front office on speed dial.


Toronto shopping Dragic and looking for front court help.

While they're a far cry from Turner, they can have both or either of ours centers. Won't cost them a 1st, either.


Covington most likely to be on the move in Portland. McLemore could move too.

Please don't let us be that team. It's a very Rob thing to do though. Overpaying for an under performing Covington and bringing the Bubble Superstar McLemore back. Would not surprise me

Wolves shopping Pat Bev and Beasley

Can't wait till Bev is out of the league.


Boston offering up DS and Josh Richardson

Bulls love them some former or almost Lakers. Frustrating if that move happens, they have AC and DS and we got nothing in return for either.


Pelicans looking for perimeter help. Looks like they want more scoring from their guards

Suns shipping Saric. Could reunite CP3 and Gordon.

Knicks looking to shed dead weight

Memphis could make Culver available

Specially Lakers related:

We are looking to find Baze a place to call home. Also Millsap could be an option, if bought out

Maybe that's why we showcased Baze in ATL. And when we shifted towards small ball and reports were Millsap might be on the move, I thought we might look his way. Just wasn't sure we'd have enough of a role considering he's already unhappy with minutes in Brooklyn.

 

lol, i'm bracing myself for a trade, not a non-trade...

the eric gordon/saric trade makes sense to me. most others suggested don't.

i can't stand bev, but the wolves are playing better than they have in years, and he starts for them. weird time to move him.

 

Trade Westbrook, Bazemore, Jordan, and 2027 first round pick to New York for Walker, Fournier, Burks, and Noel.

1. Get rid of Westbrook, Bazemore, and Jordan

2. Add three shooters and a relatively young defensive center.

3. Open up a roster spot.

4. Get under the luxury tax apron. Could offer Monk the full MLE. So in a sense, the trade is for Walker, Fournier, Burks, Noel, and MONK.

5. Smaller, easier to move contracts (compared to Westbrook).

6. This trade is good for either win-now or win-later plan.

 

#1 sounds easy :RW Barfbag:

 

Because he's a better floor spacer and can hit shots outside of 2 feet from the rim. But yes, he is also done.